DIAMOND TO DISTRIBUTE GAGNÉ INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Timonium, MA, July 2002 - Diamond Comic Distributors and Gagné International Press have reached an agreement naming Diamond as the exclusive U.S. and non-exclusive worldwide distributor of the publisher’s English-language graphic novels to the bookstore, library, warehouse club, mass merchandise, and specialty markets. The deal allows Gagné to continue selling its products through certain other specialty market venues.

Gagné International is home to Michel Gagné, the internationally acclaimed animator who helped create 1999’s The Iron Giant. Involved with animation and design since the 1980s, Gagné’s work has also appeared in films such as Space Jam, All Dogs Go to Heaven, An American Tail, and numerous others. The creator made the jump to print in 1998 with the critically acclaimed A Search for Meaning: The Story of Rex and the Gagné library has expanded to include The Mystery of He, The Great Shadow Migration, The Bird, the Spider, and the Octopus, Insanely Twisted Rabbits, Frenzied Fauna, as well as the upcoming Zed Collected Volume 1.

“Gagné’s whimsical style and enchanting line work have thrilled countless specialty market readers,” said Diamond Vice President of Purchasing Bill Schanes. “We look forward to introducing even wider audiences to his wildly original artistic visions.”

“We’ve been looking for a new distribution outlet for the book market and when Diamond decided to expend in that direction, we were thrilled,” said Michel. “We feel that Diamond is perfectly suited to represent our unusual and somewhat twisted line of books. We are confident that this new association will be a win-win situation for both our companies.”

Diamond’s Sales Team will begin working with bookstores, book wholesalers, warehouse clubs, mass merchandisers, and libraries to place Gagné International graphic novels across the country. “Gagné’s following continues to grow with each new title he offers,” Schanes added, “and we’re honored to have the opportunity to help further increase this important artist’s standing.”

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